As children growing up it was sometimes very hard to obey our parents. Our parents asked us to obey for good reasons not just to hear themselves talk. There were times we were told not to do something because if we did this we might get hurt or we might find ourselves lost in an area that we weren't familiar with. Of course there were times we were told we needed to do our schoolwork. This is an area that most kids (not all) don't want to pay attention to as it is more fun to play or watch television but here again the parents weren't talking just to hear themselves talk.
As a child when you disobeyed did you ever give your Mom or Dad a small gift to show that you were sorry? I know when I was real small if nothing else I would trace my hand and write in it "I love you, Momma". I know it made my Mom feel somewhat better but she almost always would tell me that I needed to learn to obey that it would be enough for her.
It doesn't matter who we are there are always rules to live by; most all rules are to benefit us and to help us in our life. These rules are cause for us to obey and they start out for us when we are children and it continues all through our lifetime. Have you ever thought the earlier we learn to obey the easier it is for us as we get older?
While reading my Bible I have learned many things. It has told me how I should live; it has told me how God feels about me, and also how Satan feels about me, it tells everyone that reads his/her Bible the same things.
It tells us just how much God loves each and every one of us. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Do you think God would have given His only Son if He didn't love us?
It also tells us just how much Satan despises us. All he wants of us is to do what he wants and the things he wants us to do will destroy us, we will go to hell if we follow him.
God loves us so much that He allows us to make a choice of whom to follow. Following God will take us to our marvelous home in heaven. Following Satan will take us to a burning hell.
Now to get back to the question I have asked you. I Samuel 15:22 says; "And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." From this verse it is obvious God prefers our obedience as long as it is from the heart. It means more to him than any outward form of worship or personal sacrifice. Our praise, prayer, worship, and service to Him are worthless in His sight if not accompanied by absolute obedience to Him and His righteous principals. This is not saying He doesn't want us to praise, worship, give our personal sacrifice, and pray to Him because He still wants this but with it comes our obedience to Him.
How did you answer the question asked in the beginning?
May you always know the love, joy, and peace of the Lord!
